Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-08
ASHES AS 4 FERTILIZER.
Its Value for Fruit-Growers as Shown by
Scientific Test.


Scientific Test.
The value Of wood ashes for fertilizing
are shown by analyses furnished by Prof.
R. c. Kedzie of the Agricultural College
of Michigan. Professor Kedzie says:
When we consider how large an amount
OF vegetable matter is represented by a
small amount of ash, the value of wood
ashes for manure becomes evident. Thus
ten pounds Of ash remains from the COM
bustion of a cord of soft wood. One hun
dred pounds of ash represent the mineral
matter of eighty-five bushels of wheat,
eIghty-ive bushels of corn or a ton of tim
othy hay. Eleven tons of gooseberries,
grapes, blackberries, peaches or apples
would each contain only 100 pounds OF
ash. Seven tons of cherries, plums or
raspberries contain only 100 pounds OF
mineral matter
This gives some idea of the large amount
of farm or orchard produce which will be
represented by small weight of mineral
matter. But small as is the amount of
ash, 1t Is indispensable fer the production
of these crops, and must be present in the
soil in available form before profitable cul-
tivation is possible.
If any soil is naturally deficient in any
OF the ash constituents, or has been impov-
erlshed by excessive cropping, the restora-
ton OF these materials in the form of wood
ashes appears to be the natural and safe
process, because they contain all the min
erals of vegetable growth.
Hard wood ashes were taken from my
kitchen stove, the fuel being mixture of
beech and hard maple. Small fragments
OF charcoal were scattered through the
ashes, and little sand from dirt adhering
to the wood. Ninety-three per cent. was
soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid; the
potash constituted twelve and half per
cent. and phosphoric acid six per cent.
One hundred pounds are worth 81.
l have just received letter from very
intelligent fruit-grower in which he says :
l can get pure, dry hard wood ashes at
So 20 per ton here and the same mixed
with fish otfal, half and half, at So per ton.
Which is the best for pears, apples, grapes
and berries, fine raw bone at $3S, or pure
ashes, or ashes and fish ofal?" Ny an
swer is: Whatever you neglect to buy,
do not fail to buy all the hard wood ashes
your means will allow or your land needs.
when you can get them for So 20 a ton. Ii
a man offers to sell you gold for the price
of silver, buy the gold and sell it mott
Leached ashes were taken from tan
merry in Lansing, the teaching having been
carried as far as it was profitable. Eighty
nine per cent. soluble in acid. The pot
ash was 1-6 per cent. and phosphoric acid
6.S per cent. Value of 100, 81 cents.
If leached ashes are of enough value to
be bought in car loads in Michigan and
carried by rail to Buffalo to make CONNER
cial manures for Michigan farmers, then
they are valuable enough to be used as
manures at home, where they cost little
or nothing, and the expense of double
transportation is saved.
Soft wood ashes were obtained from the
ash pit of planning mill in Lansing, being
the ashes from planings of pine, hemlock,
fir and Eastwood lumber, with some soft
coal ashes mixed in. 1t represents the
ashes from sawmill and planning mill fur
naces. Fifty per cent. of the ashes were
soluble in acid, and so much soluble silica
was in the ashes that, when treated with
acid, it formed jelly-like mass of precipi-
tated silica, twelve per cent. potash and
four per cent. phosphoric acid. One hun
dred pounds are worth 81 cents.
| may say in general terms that the
ashes of wood and land plants of every
kind are Of value as manure on every kind
of soil which has been reduced by crop
ping; but the greatest benefit is shown
upon sandy and porous soils. On these
light soils crops of every kind, but
especially root crops and corn, will be
benefited by a dressing of wood ashes.
Fruit trees and fruit-bearing plants having
woody structure will be benefited by
wood ashes. Thirty to fifty bushels to the
acre, of fresh ashes, will be full dressing,
and three or four times that amount OF
leached ashes may be applied with perma-
nent benefit